Community calendar: March 26, 2011

Saturday

Bowling for the Cure, a no-tap fundraising tournament, is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. of from 2 to 4:30 p.m. March 26 at Thunderbowl, 201 Hickory St., Thibodaux.

FUNDRAISERS

Bowling for the Cure, a no-tap fundraising tournament, is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. of from 2 to 4:30 p.m. March 26 at Thunderbowl, 201 Hickory St., Thibodaux. Shoe rental and three games costs $25. There are three divisions: youth, 9-17; adult; and bumper, 9 and under. Door prizes will be given. All proceeds benefit Relay for Life. For information, call 413-3355.

Chili’s Grill and Bar is teaming with Blue Star Moms, Mothers of Soldiers, for a fundraiser March 30 at the restaurant, 1539 Martin Luther King Blvd., Houma. Chili’s will donate 10 percent of the sales Blue Star Moms brings into the restaurant. The fundraiser is all day long and is for take out and dine in orders. The group is raising money to send out Christmas in July packages to about 480 troops. For information, call 580-0810.

The Woman’s Club of Lockport’s annual card social is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 2 at the Lockport American Legion home, 921 Veterans St. The event will feature door prizes, silent auction and more. Admission costs $10, and lunch is included. Tickets are available at the door. This is the group’s main fundraiser. Money is used for scholarships, support of local schools, libraries, food banks, the Bayou Country Children’s Museum, the Heritage Museum, for support of deployed local military, to send two girls to Girl’s State and much more. For information, contact Mary Martinez at 537-3151 or peterlmartinez@bellsouth.net.

A garage sale fundraiser for the East Park Ladies Auxiliary is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 9 at the post home, 453 Grand Caillou Road, Houma. For information, call Anne Mae Bonvillain at 876-7167.

The Rotary Club of Houma is sponsoring a flag fundraiser. You can show your colors by letting the club place a 3-by-5-foot flag on a 10-foot pole in front of your residence or business on Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4th, Veterans Day, Sept. 11 and President’s Day. The flag will stay up for one to three days. The Terrebonne Parish-only service costs $100 per year. Proceeds benefit local military and civillian charities. Make checks payable to The Houma Rotary Club Foundation, Inc. For information, e-mail Pete Benoit at pbenoit@coburns.com or call 873-7776.

Adelia Singleton: A lung-transplant fund for Adelia Singleton has been established at every South Louisiana Bank branch. Singleton was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder 15 years ago and is going through the testing phases to receive a lung transplant. The widower, who lives on a fixed income, needs help to pay for traveling expenses to Houston, where she has to undergo testing. For information, call Singleton at 868-0968 or 217-7292.

Gypsy Collins and family are asking for donations to help them in paying medical expenses associated with the death of 3-year-old Jaydon “Caillou” Parfait on June 25. Parfait died from injuries suffered in a car crash. Donations can be made to the Parfait-Collins Trust (Account No. 2925076032) at any Chase bank location.

Cohen Lirette: A bracelet fundraiser continues for Cohen Lirette. For a $5 donation, you can buy an “I Pray for Cohen” bracelet, with a prayer included. Cohen, son of Houma natives Lacey and Joey Lirette, was diagnosed at 10 months with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. He has spent more than 150 days at the hospital battling through six rounds of chemotherapy, two surgeries, a stem-cell transplant, 14 radiation treatments and a six-month immunotherapy trial. The Lirettes live in Mesquite, Texas, just outside of Dallas. To buy a bracelet, call Cohen’s grandmother, Esther Lirette, at 860-0134.

Disabled youth: Anyone wishing to make a donation to help youth with disabilities in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes can do so at any branch of South Louisiana Bank. Donations should be made to the account of “John Crochet For Severely Handicapped Youths,” a nonprofit organization. All proceeds go to helping the disabled youth of Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes gain special equipment, such as wheelchairs, to make their lives easier. Donations will also be used to make wishes come true for youth with terminal illnesses. For information, call John Crochet at home at 851-4148 or on his cell phone at 804-1469.

Rodney Brunet: A bank account has been established in Rodney Brunet Jr.’s name to help defer costs associated with medical bills stemming from his terminal renal cancer. Brunet had no medical or life insurance. Donations can be made to the Rodney Brunet Jr. Memorial Fund (Account No. 877803221) at any Chase Bank location. For information, call 851-6738.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT

There are several free cancer screenings in March sponsored by the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at Terrebonne General Medical Center. A breast cancer screening scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. and from noon to 2 p.m. March 24 at Walmart, 4858 La. 1, Mathews; and a colorectal cancer screening scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 30 at Walmart, 933 Grand Caillou Road, Houma. An appointment is required for the breast cancer screening by calling 1-888-616-4687. For information, call Karla Couvillion at 772-2528.

Are you one of the 7 million? Out of nearly 26 million people with diabetes, 7 million are unaware they have this disease. Learn if you are at risk. A diabetes education workshop is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. March 24 at Terrebonne General Medical Center’s OutReach Center inside Southland Mall, 5953 W. Park Ave., Houma. The program’s guest speaker is Dr. David Sisam, an endocrinologist at TGMC. Seating is limited. To RSVP, call 858-7020.

Do you have a gambling problem? A program, Understanding and Overcoming Problem Gambling, is an informal discussion about problem gambling and how it affects families. The program is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. March 24 at the Terrebonne Addictive Disorders Clinic, 521 Legion Ave., Houma. The program is free and open to the public. For information, call 857-3612.

Free CPR training sponsored by Cardiovascular Institute of the South is scheduled for 9 a.m. April 9 at the Municipal Auditorium, 880 Verret St., Houma. To register, call 877-288-0011.

The local American Cancer Society office is seeking volunteers, cancer survivors or students to help with the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Resource Center, which will be located at Chabert Medical Center. Volunteers will be trained to assist cancer patients, their families and caregivers with the latest in cancer-related information and connect them to needed resources. They will also provide information on community programs and services — along with dates and times for local American Cancer Society events and programs. For information, call the local American Cancer Society office at 851-7776 or 1-800-227-2345.

The American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery program helps patients cope with the diagnosis of breast cancer. For information on the program, including how you can get involved, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

The American Cancer Society is seeking beauty professionals to volunteer for the local Look Good … Feel Better Program. For information, call your American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345.

The Bayou Council on Alcoholism is offering a five-week parent-education class from 10 a.m. to noon April 6, 13, 20, 27 and May 4 at the Terrebonne Parish District Attorney’s office, 118 Armour Drive, Houma. The class is free and open to the public. To enroll or for information, call the Bayou Council at 446-0643.

The Bayou Council on Alcoholism is offering a five-week parent-education class from 10 a.m. to noon April 7, 14, 21, 28 and May 5 at the office, 504 St. Louis St., Thibodaux. The class is free and open to the public. To enroll or for information, call the Bayou Council at 446-0643.

The Bayou Council on Alcoholism is offering “Fireworks,” an anger-management class. The program includes three two-hour sessions for adults 18 and over. The classes are scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m. April 7, 14 and 21 at the the office, 504 St. Louis St., Thibodaux. There is a $150 enrollment fee. To enroll or for information, call the Bayou Council at 446-0643.

A seven-week series of eight classes for Freedom From Smoking is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Tuesdays starting May 10 at Terrebonne General Medical Center’s OutReach Center inside Southland Mall, 5953 W. Park Ave., Houma. The cost of the program is $25. To register, call 858-7020.

The Bayou Council on Alcoholism is offering “Families in Focus: Prevention in the Home,” a program designed to help families become healthier through Life Skills education. Families in Focus gives attention to the seven characteristics of a healthy family: fun, decisions, pride, values, feelings, communication and confidence. The program includes 12 one-hour sessions held weekly in the family’s home. There is a $25 enrollment fee. To enroll or for information, call the Bayou Council at 446-0643.

Training for hospice volunteers is available. If you would like to volunteer with St. Joseph Hospice in Thibodaux, call Antoinette Amedee with St. Joseph Hospice at 852-6270 or e-mail aamedee@stjosephhospice.com to set up a training session.

Journey Hospice seeks volunteers to help with terminally-ill patients and their families. Volunteer activities include visiting patients and their families in their homes or nursing homes and providing companionship. Volunteer training is free and open to all. For information, call Marcelle at 223-1865.

LIBRARY NEWS AND EVENTS

Members of the Lafourche Heritage Society will offer their assistance in researching family histories at noon Tuesdays at the Thibodaux Library, 314 St. Mary St. To register for this service, call the library at 447-4119. This program is free and open to the public.

Basic tax services are available for free to low-income families — $48,000 or less — through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program beginning this month at the Larose Branch Library, 305 E. Fifth St. The service is available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment only. To make an appointment, call the library at 693-3336. Participants should bring photo identification, a Social Security card for each member in the household, proof of income, and W-2 forms.

Free basic tax assistance is available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Fridays at the Raceland Branch Library, 177 Recreation Drive, for those who qualify. Residents with an income of $48,000 or less can receive the free help offered by the Office of Community Action. Walk-ins are welcome. For information, call the library at 537-6875.

Free income-tax preparation is available from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays at the Bayou Blue Branch Library, 198 Mazerac St. For an appointment, call the library at 580-0634.

Free computer classes are being offered at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library, 151 Library Drive, Houma, and the North Terrebonne Branch Library, 4130 W. Park Ave., Gray. The Terrebonne Parish Library System’s technology librarian, Bob Cornes, offers hands-on training in a relaxed atmosphere. No registration is required, and they may be taken as often as necessary to help you become proficient using your computer. For information, call 876-1733.

A multiweek family literacy program is set for Wednesdays through April 6 at the South Lafourche Public Library, 16241 E. Main St., Cut Off. Prime Time Family Reading Time is a humanities-based program that centers on reading, discussion and storytelling. It’s designed to promote family reading and to help parents and guardians improve their children’s reading abilities. It’s open to children 6 to 10 and their families. For information, call the Lafourche Parish Public Library headquarters at 446-1163 and ask for Allison Clark. The program is free and open to the public.

The Lego Builders Club for second- through sixth-graders is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. March 23 at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library, 151 Library Drive, Houma.

A program on Facebook privacy is scheduled from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 23 at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library, 151 Library Drive, Houma. The Terrebonne Parish Library System’s reference librarian, Ross Mays, will demonstrate how to preserve your privacy while connecting with friends on Facebook. Not sure who can see you and what they can learn about you on Facebook? He will discuss how you can choose what information to reveal about you and to whom. The program is free and open to the public. For information, call 876-5158, extension 201.

The Eighth Annual Jambalaya Writers’ Conference and Book Fair is scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. March 26 at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library, 151 Library Drive, Houma. The conference features discussion sessions on writing and publishing poetry and prose by professional authors, agents and publishing company representatives. The conference is free and open to the public, but to hear keynote speaker Lisa Jackson and to eat the jambalaya lunch, there was a $30 registration that must have been sent by March 11. In addition to Jackson, Marcelle Bienvenu, a native of St. Martinville will share her writing experiences. Her popular first book, “Who’s your Mama, Are You Catholic, and Can You Make a Roux?,” has been recently republished. At 2 p.m., she will present “How to Write a Cookbook that Sells” and at 3 p.m. her talk is “Stories from the Stove.” For information, call 876-5861 or visit www.mtpl.org.

Your Family Tree on the Web program is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 30 at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library, 151 Library Drive, Houma. The program provides information about posting, connecting with others and how to avoid pitfalls. There is a limit of 10. Registration is required.

The Lockport Branch Library is seeking entries to its amateur photography contest. The deadline to submit entries is April 1. Contest winners will be awarded prizes during National Library Week, and their winning entries will be on display at the library throughout April. Contest guidelines and entry forms can be picked up at the Lockport Branch Library, 720 Crescent Ave. For information, call the library at 532-3158.

An annual teen job fair is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. April 4 at the Martha Sowell Utley Memorial Library, 314 St. Mary St., Thibodaux. Area employers will be accepting job applications from teens and talking about job opportunities with local companies. This program is free and open to the public. Applicants should be at least 16 and bring a valid photo ID and résumé, if a résumé is available. For information, call 447-4119.

The South Lafourche Public Library is seeking children 5-12 interested in taking part in its upcoming Easter play. Dress rehearsal is scheduled for 2 p.m. April 2 at the library, 16241 E. Main St., Cut Off. The performance is scheduled for 2 p.m. April 9. For information, call Kristen Angelette at the South Lafourche Public Library at 632-7140.

To observe National Poetry Month, two programs are planned for poetry lovers. The Poets’ Cafe is scheduled to meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. April 7 at the North Terrebonne Branch Library, 4130 W. Park Ave., Gray, and a poetry night is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. April 12 at the East Houma Branch Library, 778 Grand Caillou Road. Organizers say both programs offer the public the opportunity to recite an original poem, read a favorite selection from a book or just come to listen in an atmosphere reminiscent of a 1960s coffee house. Light refreshments will be served. For information, call North Branch at 868-3050 or East Houma Branch at 876-7072.

A grievance support group meeting is scheduled from 2 to 3 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month at the Bayou Blue Branch Library, 198 Mazerac St. For information, call 580-0634.

The South Lafourche Public Library is seeking collections of small items for temporary display. All items to be displayed at the library will be securely locked in display cases. Community members with collections they would like to display should call Librarian Helen Brunet at 632-7140.

Book lovers ages 18 and up are invited to participate in “Talking Books,” a new book-discussion group, at the South Lafourche Public Library, 16241 E. Main St., Cut Off. Group members will read and discuss works of fiction, history, the classics, biographies and more. For information or to sign up, call Librarian Helen Brunet at 632-7140.

Local child-care providers can bring story time to children in their care through the Lafourche Parish Public Library’s “Bringing Books to Life” outreach program, which works with daycares, preschools, Head Start programs and Even Start programs. The library system’s youth-services assistants read stories and sing songs to and interact with children through action verse and finger plays. The library’s Youth Services Department also loans and delivers library books to these locations to help promote early literacy. For information, call Youth Service Coordinator Trinna Holcomb at 438-3117.

Talking globes to help people with learning disabilities and visual impairment, including blindness, are available at the Martha Sowell Utley Memorial Library, 314 St. Mary St., Thibodaux; the Lockport Public Library, 720 Crescent Ave.; and the South Lafourche Public Library, 16241 E. Main St., Cut Off.

Children ages 5 to 11 can receive free books on their birthdays from the Martha Sowell Utley Memorial Library, 314 St. Mary St., Thibodaux. The library received a $5,000 grant from Entergy to encourage children to read on their birthdays. Children who register their birthdays with library staff can return on their birthdays to pick up a free Newberry or Caldecott award-winning children’s book. To register, children must have a valid library card.

MEETINGS

The annual meeting of the Coastal Chapter of the Retired State Employee Association is scheduled to meet at 9:30 a.m. April 12 at Quality Hotel, 210 S. Hollywood Road, Houma. For information, call 1-866-938-0961.

The Bayou Region Council of Republican Women’s meeting is scheduled from 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 12 at Ellendale Country Club, 3319 La. 311, Houma. Registration is scheduled from 5:30 to 6 p.m. The meeting’s speaker is Mike Strain, Louisiana Secretary of Agriculture. The cost for the meeting is $10. You must RSVP by 3 p.m. April 8. To RSVP, email bayouregioncrw.general@gmail.com or mail 7712 Main St., Suite 111, Houma, LA 70360.

The Talk It Out support group for women who have lost infants meets at 6:30 p.m. Mondays at First Presbyterian Church, 414 Barrow St., Houma. For information, call Celeste Ray at 262-0240 or visit www.losstalk.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women whose common purpose is to develop healthy relationships in a journey of self-discovery. Meetings are scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. Mondays at Hunter Horgan Hall, 720 Jackson Ave., Thibodaux. For information, call 447-8159 or 526-8565 or visit www.coda.org.

The United Veterans League meets at 6 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at 350 S. Van Ave., Houma. The club is looking for new members. Dues are $10 per year. For information, call Ray Ordoyne at 226-0429.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly — a nonprofit weight-management support group — is scheduled to meet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Grand Caillou Recreation Center, 106 Badou Drive. For information, call 563-7483 or the Grand Caillou Branch Library at 563-2014.

Loss Talk Inc. is forming a new support group for men who have job loss or reduction due to the oil moratorium on drilling. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesdays at Grace Chapel, 6781 W. Park Ave., Houma. For information, call Celeste at the Loss Talk office at 262-0240 or e-mail losstalkinc@gmail.com.

The Marine Corps League Houma-Terrebonne Detachment No. 475 meets at 7 p.m. the first Monday of the month at the Hut, 206 St. Pius St., Houma. The group’s bingo games are scheduled for 7 p.m. Fridays at Westside Bingo Hall on Westside Boulevard in Houma. The group is accepting members. Dues for the first year are $31 and $25 thereafter.

The Marine Corps League Houma-Terrebonne Detachment No. 475 Ladies Auxiliary is open for new members. For information, call 876-7971 or Roy Labat at 873-7010.

Members of the Houma-Terrebonne Airport Commission are set to meet at 6 p.m. April 7 and 21, May 5 and 19, June 2 and 16, July 7 and 21, Aug. 4 and 18, Sept. 1 and 15, Oct. 6 and 20, Nov. 3 and 17, and Dec. 1 and 15 in the commission’s meeting room, 10264 E. Main St., Houma. The commission’s safety committee meetings are scheduled for 11:15 a.m. April 20, May 18, June 15, July 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 21, Oct. 19 and Nov. 16 in the commission’s meeting room.

Loss Talk Inc. is forming a new support group for women who have lost small children and infants. The meetings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays of the month at First Presbyterian Church, 414 Barrow St., Houma. For information, contact Celeste at the Loss Talk office at 262-0240 or e-mail her at losstalkinc@gmail.com. For information, visit www.losstalk.org.

S.H.A.R.E., a group for separated or divorced people, is scheduled to meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of the month at The Community of St. Thomas Café at Nicholls State University on the Thibodaux campus. For information, call Jeffery or Connie Daigle at 448-0405 or the St. Thomas Aquinas Church office at 446-6201.

Refuge Restoration Outreach Ministry holds a food-bank giveaway from noon to 2 p.m. every second Saturday of the month at 6905 Alma St., Houma. Bring proof of income.

Southern University alumni and others interested in helping students and working on community projects are invited to attend meetings of the Southern University Alumni, held at 7 p.m. the second Monday of each month at the Alumni Building, 4774 W. Main St., Houma.

The Sit and Stitch Group, a free gathering for knitters, crocheters and other needle crafters meets from 6 to 8 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Books-A-Million, 1539 Martin Luther King Blvd., Houma.

La Table Francaise (The French Table) meets from 9 to 11 a.m. the first and third Saturdays of the month at The Coffee Zone, 7884 W. Main St., Houma. The club aims to promote the revival of the French language in this area. The public is welcome to attend. During meetings, participants speak French, learn new words and encourage each other with stories from the past and present.

The Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government Head Start Program Policy Council meets at 5 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at the East Houma Library, 778 Grand Caillou Road, Houma.

VFW Post 3700, 1190 Barrow St., Houma, meets every third Monday of the month. A meal is provided. New members are invited to join and attend meetings. The post holds bingo at 7 p.m. every Tuesday. The public is invited. Food and drinks are available. For information, call Jack Croker at 876-6598.

The Military Round Table Discussion Group meets every third Tuesday of the month at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library, 151 Library Drive, Houma. The group, sponsored by the Regional Military Museum, meets for coffee and conversation from 5 to 6 p.m., then stays for a lecture by varying guest speakers. The meetings are open to the public, no membership required. For information, call the museum at 873-8200.

The 2011 Independence Day Events Planning Group, sponsored by the Regional Military Museum in Houma, begins meeting at 4 p.m. the third Thursday of each month in the boardroom on the second floor of the Terrebonne Parish Main Library, 151 Library Drive, Houma. All are welcome to help in planning for next year’s Fourth of July festivities in Houma. Call the Regional Military Museum at 873-8200.

H.E.L.P. Corp. holds its general meetings at 6:30 p.m. the last Tuesday of each month at The City Club, 7861 Main St., Houma. For information, visit HELPcorp.org or call Kelli McNamara at 879-4485.

American Legion Post 31, 602 Legion Ave., Houma, meets at 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month. Meals are provided. New members are invited to join and attend meetings. Hall rentals are available. For rentals, call 872-0885. For information, call Jack Croker at 876-6598.

Terrebonne High School Class of 1967 meets the third Saturday of each month, 11:30 a.m. at Golden Corral, 1724 Martin Luther King Blvd., Houma. Classmates and their guests are invited to attend. Call Ella at 879-1366.

The Bayou Cajuns Chapter of the nonprofit Cajun French Music Association, 6:30-9:30 p.m. every second Wednesday of the month at the Jolly Inn, 1507 Barrow St., Houma. Meetings include a potluck supper, live Cajun music and dancing. No cover charge. Bring your favorite covered dish. Meetings are free, but membership in the group is $20 a year per family. Call Margaret Neil at 851-1867 or Linda Carrere at 876-3818.

Terrebonne Fellowship Masonic Lodge No. 481, first and third Wednesdays of the month at the lodge on Bayou Gardens Boulevard in Houma. Supper at 6:30 p.m. Meeting at 7:30 p.m.

The Louisiana State Poetry Society’s Bayou Chapter meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Terrebonne Parish Library, 151 Library Drive, Houma. People of all ages are welcome to come and discuss the lives and works of many poets and share their poetry. You do not have to join the society to come meet fellow poetry lovers and writers. E-mail Daniel Dupre, president of the Bayou Chapter, at danieldupre@bellsouth.net.

Le Krewe Du Bon Temps holds its general membership meetings at 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at the Larose Civic Center, 307 E. Fifth St., Larose. All members are encouraged to attend.

TOPS Chapter LA 325 of Houma meets every Thursday at St. Louis Church parish hall in Bayou Blue. Weigh-ins begin at 5 p.m. and meetings start at 6:30 p.m.

AA meeting, sponsored by the No Name Group of AA, 7 p.m. Mondays in the meeting room in the back of St. Ann Hospital, 106 Cypress St. off La. 1, Raceland. Meetings are closed.

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held by the The Easy Does It Club, or the EDIC, at 10 a.m., noon, 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and Sundays; and at 10 a.m., noon and 8 p.m. Saturdays at 101 Munson Drive, Houma.

Narcotics Anonymous meetings are held by The Easy Does It Club, or the EDIC, at 8 p.m. Mondays, Fridays and Sundays at 101 Munson Drive, Houma.

Cocaine Anonymous meetings are held by the Easy Does It Club, or the EDIC, at 8 p.m. Wednesdays at the same address. All meetings are open. Call the 24-hour hotline at 800-285-3989. For information, call 876-9855.

American Legion Post No. 31 meets at 7 p.m. every second Thursday of each month at the post, at the corner of Legion and Williams avenues. A meal is served at each meeting. New members are invited. Call the post at 872-0885 or Jack Croker at 876-6598. The Ladies American Legion Auxiliary Post No. 31 meets at the same time and location.

Co-dependents Anonymous meetings are held every Monday at 7 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 716 Jackson St., Thibodaux. Call 447-8159 or 526-8565 for information.

The United Veterans League meets at 6 p.m. every fourth Monday of the month at 350 S. Van Ave., Houma. The league helps with military funerals, flag ceremonies and other veterans’ activities. The league is open to anyone. Call Ray Ordoyne at 226-0429.

Terrebonne Chapter No. 988 of the AARP meets at 11 a.m. every third Monday of the month at the Piccadilly Cafeteria, 6803 W. Park Ave., Houma. New members are needed. Dues are $5 a year.

Les Reflections du Bayou meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at the CZM office (the old annex building), 101 W. 112th St., Cut Off.

TOPS Chapter LA 325 of Houma meets every Thursday at the St. Louis Church parish hall in Bayou Blue. Weigh-ins begin at 5:30 p.m., and meetings start at 7 p.m.

A multiple-sclerosis support group, 7 p.m. Thursdays at Terrebonne General Medical Center’s OutReach Center in Southland Mall in Houma.

Al-Anon meetings are held in Houma at the following times and places: 6 p.m. Sundays at St. Matthew’s Episcopal School library, Belanger Street, contact Bev at 851-6440; noon Tuesdays and 7 p.m. Wednesdays at 728 Belanger St., contact Linda at 226-1698; 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 728 Belanger St., contact Linda at 537-8585; and 10 a.m. Fridays at First United Methodist Church, 6109 La. 311, contact Louise at 872-4860.

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held at 6 p.m. Wednesdays. It’s an open meeting. For information, call Melody at 227-0415.

“Shoulders to Lean On,” a support group for family and friends of prisoners, meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Thursday of each month at the Family Life Center at First Baptist Church of Houma, 7382 Main St., Houma. Call 879-1942 or 876-1671.

Alcoholics Anonymous at 7 p.m. Monday-Friday at 728 Belanger St., Houma; also at 6 p.m. Sundays and at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 243 Barrow St., Houma; and at 6:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 728 Belanger St., Houma; also the AA Easy Does It Club meets at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, 101 Munson Drive, Houma.

TOPS of Thibodaux meets at 10 a.m. each Friday at Peltier Park in Thibodaux.

The Houma Shrine Club Dune Patrol meets at 7 p.m. every second Thursday of the month at the Houma Shrine Club on the Houma Airbase, 200 Moffet Road, Houma.

The Houma Shrine Club Clown Unit meets at 7 p.m. every fourth Thursday of the month at the Houma Shrine Club on the Houma Airbase, 200 Moffet Road, Houma.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Applications for a scholarship offered to a local 2011 graduating senior are available through the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office in Houma. Deadline for submtting applications for the $500 scholarship is April 1. For information, contact Donna Blanchard in Sheriff Vernon Bourgeois’ office between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.

Registration for summer camp at the Bayou Black Recreation Center, 3688 Southdown Mandalay Road, has begun. You can register from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the center for children 4 to 13. Camp is set to begin May 24 and continue through Aug. 5. For information, call Melissa at 876-4270. The center is also taking applications for camp counselors and lifeguards. You must be 17 or older. You can apply from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the center.

The Black Oral History Project is a new documentary endeavor that is starting in Terrebonne Parish. The project has been awarded a grant through the Houma Regional Arts Council’s Parish Arts Funding Program in cooperation with Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government and the Terrebonne Folklife Museum to begin the documentation of oral histories and traditions of black Americans in Terrebonne Parish. The project will document video and audio interviews that will be archived at various local, statewide and national cultural organizations including parish libraries, state museums and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. This project will consist of gathering and documenting cultural information and then providing that information as resources to the general public. For information, call Charles Brown, the project director, at 381-9623 or the Houma Regional Arts Council at 873-6367.

The Houma Regional Arts Council, in cooperation with the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government, announces the April 15 application deadline to apply for funding through the Terrebonne Parish Arts Funding Program. The program is a service for funding art and cultural activities occurring in Terrebonne Parish. The program is supported by the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government and is administered by the Houma Regional Arts Council. Any nonprofit organization in Terrebonne presenting an arts project may apply for funding. Applicants may be awarded up to $1,500 to support open-to-the-public art programs. For guidelines and applications, visit www.houmaterrebonne.org or call Rusty Bouvier at 873-6367.

The Outdoor Movies Series continues this year on the second and third Fridays of each month in Memorial Park across from the Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum, 7910 Park Ave., downtown Houma. The second Friday of each month will be the launch of the French Outdoor Movie Series. The Outdoor Movie Series begins March 18 with the 1942 Oscar winning “Casablanca” starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. This movie will begin at twilight. The Outdoor Movie Series, which features family friendly notable films, will continue throughout the year on every third Friday of the month. Moviegoers are invited to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs. The event is free and open to the public. For information, call the Houma Regional Arts Council at 873-6367.

Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government’s Head Start program will accept applications from low-income families for the 2011-12 school year through March 4. To apply, children must be 3 by Sept. 30. Families with children who have severe disabilities are encouraged to apply. There is no fee for Head Start services. Applications will be accepted at all Head Start classrooms and 809 Barrow St., Houma. For information, call Cindy Fanguy at 580-7273.

Officials with the Thibodaux Senior Citizen’s Center are planning two trips this year. The first trip, May 14 and 15, is scheduled for Mobile, Ala., where the group will go to the Greyhound Park for an afternoon of racing. The second trip, Oct. 29-Nov. 5, is scheduled for the Ohio Amish Country and South Bend, Ind. for a tour of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and the historic Notre Dame Stadium. The trip will also feature a trip to Kentucky for a guided tour of Church Hill Downs. There are costs for the trip for rooms, meals and guided tours. Trips have to be booked 45 days in advance. For information, call Evelyn Thibodaux at 446-8220.

The Terrebonne Historical and Cultural Society wants your old photographs. The group wants your old photographs of Terrebonne Parish to create an online database on its website. You can bring your old photographs to Southdown Plantation, 1208 Museum Drive, Houma, where staff and volunteers can scan the images. All photographs should have the owner’s name and phone number written in pencil on the back of the picture. For information, call the museum at 851-0154.

Thibodaux Regional Medical Center is sponsoring three AARP driver-safety programs in 2011. Classes are scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon March 18, June 17 and Sept. 16 in the hospital’s multipurpose room, 602 N. Acadia Road. Registration is required. Seating is limited. The program costs $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers. The class is for those 50 and older. For information, call 446-1480 or 493-4765.

The Terrebonne Council on Aging’s birthday parties are scheduled for March 22 at the five multipurpose senior citizen’s centers. For information, call the Council on Aging at 868-4811.

The Crescent City Sound Chorus, a women’s chorus, is holding auditions for new members at 7 p.m. Mondays in the music room, third floor of Delgado Community College, 615 City Park Ave., New Orleans. The chorus is a chapter of the Sweet Adelines International. For information, call 898-0951 or 504-453-0858 or visit www.crescentcitysound.com.

The Community Chorus of River Parishes is beginning its Spring 2011 season. CCRP’s mission is “to bring together voices in harmony for the purpose of promoting cultural enrichment through music.” Membership is open to singers from middle through high-school students to adults of all ages. Rehearsals are scheduled for 7 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at R.K. Smith Middle School, 281 Sugarland Parkway, Luling. New members are encouraged to attend the Jan. 27 rehearsal to receive music and membership information. For information, contact CCRP at CCRPsings@gmail.com, Ginny Riecke at 652-0162, Marilyn Richoux at 764-2698, Boyce Butler at 764-9235 or Wally DesChamps at 504-872-4617.

The Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, or LUMCON, has started a new adult-education program, Gulf Lagniappe. The program is a series of one-day workshops through July at LUMCON, 8124 La. 56, Cocodrie. Each workshop is open to any adult Gulf Coast resident 18 years old or older who is interested in learning more about Louisiana’s coastal and marine environments. Each workshop will focus on one or more of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance’s priority issues. Each workshop session includes an in-depth talk given by one of LUMCON’s research scientists; an environmental discussion aboard one of LUMCON’s research vessels, the R/V Pelican; laboratory activities; and a guided tour of the DeFelice Marine Center and lunch provided in the LUMCON cafeteria. Pre-registration is encouraged, however on-site registration is available. The cost is $10 per person. For information, contact Murt Conover at mconover@lumcon.edu or 851-2860 or Holly Hebert at hhebert@lumcon.edu or 851-2842. The program is sponsored by the Gulf of Mexico Alliance.

The Thibodaux Main Street Farmer’s Market is open from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturdays next to the Jean Lafitte National Park Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center, 314 St. Mary St. Approximately 21 vendors sell fresh produce and locally grown products on a weekly basis. For information, call Joyce Benoit at 448-1474.

An after-school program at Start Corp. will steer adolescents toward others 11-17 who want to take a stand against tobacco. To become a member or learn more about Defy, visit defythelies.com or Facebook.com/start corp. You can use Defy as community-service hours and receive prizes and gear, too. Members become aware of the impact of smokeless tobacco products and increase the number of parks, recreational areas and school districts with tobacco-free policies. For information, call Gail Brigham 414-2087, 447-8243 or 449-7036.

The Lafourche Parish Office of Community Action is accepting applications for its energy-assistance program, known as LIHEAP at the following sites: Martin Luther King Park, 1445 Martin Luther King Drive, Thibodaux; Galliano Annex, 101 W. 112th St., Cut Off; and the old Wal-Mart Building, 4876 La. 1, Mathews. LIHEAP aims to help those having trouble paying their energy bills. Documentation needed includes: proof of income, license or ID, Social Security numbers for every member of the household, dates of birth for everyone in the household, current electric or gas bill. For income guidelines and other information, call Stephanie Washington at 446-6731, Robin Cheramie at 632-3989 or Latoya Manuel at 537-7603.

B.R.I.D.G.E.S., Building Recovery for Individual Dreams and Goals through Education and Support, a peer-to-peer support and education group for those diagnosed with a mental illness, now has education and support meetings in Houma, Napoleonville, Morgan City, Raceland and the Galliano area. For a meeting time and place, call 1-800-805-7934.

Hospice of South Louisiana needs volunteers to help year-round with patient services and office work at 6500 Main St., Houma. Call Cathy at 868-3095.

Bridge: Duplicate bridge game open to public at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at The Homestead, 1132 Cottage Drive, Houma. Call 872-3839.

Modeling classes will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. the first and third Saturdays of each month at the Lisa Park Gym, 6639 Lisa Park Ave., Houma. Proceeds benefit research into Down’s Syndrome. For information, call Mary Duplantis at 876-0301.

Belly dance classes are held on Monday evenings with Instructor Jessica Martin at Studio 371, 371 School St., Houma. For information, call 688-6283.

The United Veterans League offers a chapel service as a final tribute to deceased veterans. The service includes a reading, playing of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” while the group files by and salutes, a gun salute by the Rifle Squad and “Taps” and folding and presentation of the flag to the family. Call Ray Ordoyne at 851-2665 or Willie Boudreaux at 594-3727.

The Houma-Terrebonne Community Band practices at 7 p.m. Thursdays at the Southdown Stadium on St. Charles Street. People of all ages who play any instrument are invited to join. Call 397-0545, e-mail info@htcb.org or visit www.htcb.org.

The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council for South Louisiana is a non-profit organization providing prevention education, referral and assessment services. Programs offered through the group, known as ADAC, include strengthening families, super-conflict resolution and a children’s program. Call Andrea DeHart at 879-2273.

“Join My World” is a newly formed nonprofit group aimed at increasing awareness and education for those affected by autism. Call Michelle Simon at 804-6453 or e-mail her at mrs1md@gmail.com.

Do you enjoy building scale models of aircraft, armor, cars, trucks, ships or figures? A Houma area scale-model builder is organizing an informal general-interest club to promote the hobby and give scale-model enthusiasts a forum for sharing tips and techniques. Call Bruce Jenkins after 6 p.m. at 876-7394 or e-mail bj342@charter.net.

Louisiana Modeling Academy is accepting registrations for modeling classes and contests at the Ramada Inn, 1400 W. Tunnel Blvd., Houma. All proceeds benefit research into Down Syndrome. Call 876-0301.

VFW Bingo: 7 p.m. every Tuesday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, 1190 Barrow St., Houma. Features progressive pull tabs and pickle jar. Call 876-3296. Adult volleyball is held from 9:30 a.m. to noon every Wednesday at the Dularge Gym, 1330 Dr. Beatrous Road. Free and just for fun. For people age 18 and up only. Call 879-4340.

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